Paul Wendel

Chairman Paul M “PJ” Wendel Jr (R-District 10) has been a resident of Chautauqua County since 1977.

As a Legislator of District 10 since 2011, Chairman Wendel represents the residents of a portion of the Town of Busti, as well as the Village of Lakewood and a portion of the City of Jamestown. He has served on several committees while a member of the legislature including Audit & Control, Administrative Services and Public Safety, where he served as Chairman. Chairman Wendel has served as the Legislative Majority Leader from 2016-2018. Chairman Wendel is also a member of the Fire Advisory Board, EMS Council, as well as Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

Prior to becoming a county legislator, Chairman Wendel served as a Trustee for the Village of Lakewood for 5 years and two of those years as Deputy Mayor. Chairman Wendel has been a member of the Chautauqua County Fire Service since 1989, serving as Assistant Chief, Captain and Lieutenant of the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department as well as President and Vice President of the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Company Inc. Chairman Wendel has been an EMT for over 21 years.

Chairman Wendel graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1993, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Education/Teacher Certification, The United States Sports Academy, Daphne Alabama, with a Master of Sport Science Degree in Exercise Science, and a Masters of Education Degree, Educational Leadership, from Edinboro University in 2011. Chairman Wendel has been employed as a Physical Education Teacher at Falconer Central School for 18 years. The first 12 years at the Falconer Middle/High school, and the last five years at Paul B.D. Temple Elementary.

Chairman Wendel has recently competed in the European Championships of Celtic Wrestling where he was a two – time Silver Medalist. Chairman Wendel currently represents the United Sates as a member of the Federation Internationale’ Lutte Celtic. (International Celtic Wrestling Federation)

A resident of Lakewood since 1989, Chairman Wendel and his wife Jennifer are proud parents of two children, Sydney and Bohdan